Neutron-gamma borehole logging method and apparatus for identifying elements in borehole formations



1966 A. H. YOUMANS NEUTRON-GAMMA BOREHOLE LOGGING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING ELEMENTS IN BOREHOLE FORMATIONS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 25, 1951 RECORDE R CONVERSION CIRCUIT PULSE RATE kSHAPER MULTICHANNEL PULSE SELECTOR AMPLIFIER\ INVENTORQ ARTHUR H. YOUMANS SOURCE m W1: W m a 17 R E O M O l l R 6 2 mm 2 E Y M C 5 7 m w a m 2WD| P P m M w s A W f m 2 W 2 m l R mm 25 M L M. A U4 6 m. OT\ 9 T P 4 2 O l 2 S 3 5 m W T T Y R W O L R E COIL RU HU c H H,U EP PM I PM W P 5OU M 2P 5 A BY ,FMUW

ATTORNEY Dec. 27, 1966 H. YOUMANS 3,294,972

NEUTRON-GAMMA BOREHOLE LOGGING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING ELEMENTS Flled Aug 23, 1951 IN BOREHOLE FORMATIONS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 RECORDER SHAPER PULSE RATE AMPLIFIER CONVERSION CIRCUIT SOURCE INVENTOR. ARTHUR H. Y OUMAN S ATTORNEY United States Patent NEUTRON -GAMMA BQREHQLE LOGGING METH- 01) AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING ELE- MENTS IN BGREHOLE FORMATIGNS Arthur H. Yonmans, Tulsa, Okla, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Dresser Industries, Inc, Dallas, Tern, a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 23, 1951, Ser. No. 243,230 41 Claims. (Cl. 250-83.3)

This is a continuation-in-part of the copending application, S.N. 200,748, filed December 14, 1950, by A. H. Youmans, now US. Patent No. 3,254,217.

This invention relates to the art of geophysical prospecting and more particularly to the art of radioactivity well logging wherein gamma rays resulting from neutron capture or inelastic scattering are measured selectively and the spectral distribution of gamma rays is determined.

The purpose of well logging is to identify the composition of the formations of the earth surrounding a well. In particular, oil or oil bearing formations are sought to be identified. Every chemical element has specific and unique nuclear properties which may be measured; therefore, nuclear measurements in a borehole may be used to determine the atomic composition of material around the borehole. This invention is based upon the fact that every atomic nucleus possesses a unique scheme of energy states which may be excited by encounters with other particles. A nucleus so excited subsequently loses this excess energy by the emission of one or more gamma rays or by the emission of a particle or particles, or both. Where gamma rays are emitted, the quanta, in general, have energies corresponding to the excitation energy levels of the atom, or to differences between excitation energy levels. Thus, following nuclear excitation, an element which emits gamma rays always emits gamma rays which have an energy distribution characteristic of that element alone. By analysis of the gamma ray energy distribution, atomic composition of formations containing such elements may be determined.

Nearly every nucleus may capture thermal neutrons. When it does so, it generally becomes excited 6 to 10 m.e.v. above the normal ground state of the new nucleus formed by the fusion of the captured neutron with the original nucleus. The nuclei of the atoms of the forma tions may, therefore, be excited by slow neutron bombardment, However, not all isotopes readily capture neutrons. Carbon 12 and oxygen 16 are non-capturing isotopes, and their nuclei must be excited in a different manner. Excitation of these nuclei may be accomplished by bombardment with fast neutrons. When a high neutron strikes a nucleus, the neutron may be elastically scattered, it may be captured, or it may be inelastically scattered. Non-capturing elements such as carbon 12 and oxygen 16 become excited when they inelastically scatter high energy neutrons; inelastic scattering of a neutron may be'considered equivalent to capture of the neutron and re-emission with energy lower than its original energy. The lost energy is given to the struck nucleus and results in excitation of the struck nucleus which will then emit gamma radiation characteristic of that particular nucleus. Excitation by the inelastic scattering of fast neutrons is possible for nearly every nucleus except protium and helium. Therefore, hydrogen and helium nuclei may be excited by slow neutron capture, carbon 12 and oxygen 16 nuclei may be excited by the inelastic scattering of neutrons, and most other nuclei may be excited by both methods. The method of exciting the nuclei will aifect the gamma radiation emitted; for when excited by neutron capture, a nucleus becomes a different isotope; whereas when excited by inelastic scattering, a nucleus retains its original composition except that it is excited.

To use these principles in well logging, the elements in the formations may be excited by inelastic collision with fast neutrons emerging from a source of neutrons or by capture of neutrons which have diffused away from the source and gradually slowed down until they are captured. The radium-beryllium source of neutrons which is now employed in neutron well logging may be used as a source for this invention. Gamma rays resulting from the inelastic scattering of fast neutrons may be detected near the source. Non-capturing elements and elements that capture slow neutrons verypoorly may be identified near the source; e.g., carbon, oxygen, silicon, and aluminum may be identified by detecting gamma rays of inelastic scattering near the source. Of course, gamma rays resulting from capture or inelastic scattering of neutrons by other elements will also be present. At some distance from the source, where few fast neutrons penetrate, capture processes will predominate, and the gamma rays which may be detected will be those arising from neutron capture by elements which readily capture slow neutrons, in particular, hydrogen, chlorine, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sulphur, and titanium. This invention comprises a method and apparatus for detecting and classifying gamma rays according to energies so that relative atomic proportions may be deduced from the relative intensities of the gamma rays of different energies.

A scintillation'counter is suitable for selectively detecting gamma rays of particular energies for the output pulses of a scintillation counter may be directly proportional to the energies of the incident gamma rays. It is necessary that the electrons produced by the gamma rays be completely stopped in the detectorvand that for each scintillation the same fraction of light reach the photocathode in order for each pulse to have energy proportional to the energy of the incident gamma rays giving rise to said pulse. The scintillation counter may have a crystal scintillation medium on which gamma radiation from the strata impinges. Impingi-ng gamma rays may suffer Compton scattering, may produce a photoelectron or may react to form a positron-electron pair. in either of the latter two cases a discrete amount of energy will be imparted to the crystal provided the secondary electrons do not escape. Thus, if a monoenergetic beam of gamma rays were to traverse the crystal, a distribution of pulse energies would appear in the output of the scintillation counter. This distribution would contain a triad of peaks, one corresponding to the largest pulses being due to the stopping of a gamma ray by the photoelectric effect, another due to pair formation, and a broad flat peak due to Compton scattering. The sharp peaks due to the first two processes indicate the energy of the gamma rays. If the radiation is polychromatic, as it is in well logging, a complicated spectrum will result, but where particular gamma ray energies are predominant, corresponding peaks will occur in the pulse height distribution. Separate measurements of the counting rate for pulses corresponding in height to these peaks comprise logs indicative of the relative atomic proportions of the elements characterized by the gamma rays producing them. Since the capture cross-sections and scattering cross-sections are different for each element, the logs must be adjusted according to the relative cross-sections in order to make the counting rates directly indicative of atomic proportions.

In well logging according to this invention, the electrical pulses from the scintillation counter are transmitted to the surface of the earth and there separated according to their height by a pulse selector which passes pulses 0 of particular heights into separate channels. Since pulses in each channel may be made indicative of a particular element. Since the gamma-ray spectrum likely to be encountered in well logging is complicated, peaks will overlap in the pulse height distribution and will be difficult to distinguish from one another; also there will be smearing of the peaks resulting from scattering of gamma rays in the strata, borehole, and instrument casing prior to detection. Compton scattering in the detector will provide further background which may obscure the peaks. Because of the difficulty in identifying the peaks, a multiplicity of detectors may be desirable. In particular, two detectors, one near the source and one distant, is desirable. The detector near to the source could be used for the detection of carbon, oxygen, or other non-capturing material; for near the source fast neutrons will be inelastically scattered, and gamma rays due to the inelastic scattering will be detected. At the distant detector there are few fast neutrons, and the gamma rays detected will be those due to slow neutron capture. The remote detector supplies information concerning capturing material particularly hydrogen, chlorine, calcium, and magnesium. Comparison of the gamma-ray spectra detected by the two detectors provides more information than one spectrum alone, for the effects of inelastic scattering and neutron capture may be isolated and, therefore, will not obscure each other. It is also desirable to include a neutron sensitive detector at the distant detector to detect neutron flux density so that the log made by the distant detector may be interpreted quantitatively and not be dependent upon neutron flux density.

It is not necessary that only sharp peaks be measured in order to make an effective log. A log will provide valuable information no matter how the energy spectrum is divided. Measurements with a plurality of detectors having different spectral sensitivity is within the scope of this invention.

Therefore, the primary object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for identifying the elements in the strata surrounding a drill hole. Another object is to provide a method and apparatus for making a spectral analysis of gamma rays detected in neutron well logging. A further object of the present invention is to provide a well logging system whereby the spectral distribution of gamma radiation impinging upon one or more detectors may be measured. Another object is to provide such a system with detectors of the scintillation counter type. Still another object is to provide a plurality of radiation detectors of different sensitivities in order to detect selectively gamma rays of different energies. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a radioactivity well logging operation;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view of one form of the subsurface instrument using a single scintillation counter;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of the subsurface instrument utilizing a pair of scintillation counters;

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a modified form of the surface apparatus; and

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view of a further modification of the subsurface equipment wherein one of a pair of scintillation counters is shielded.

Referring to the drawings in detail, particularly FIG- URE 1, there is illustrated schematically a radioactivity well surveying operation in which a portion of the earths surface is shown in vertical section. A well ill penetrates the earths surface and may or may not be cased. Disposed within the Well is subsurface instrument 12 of the well logging system. Cable 13 suspends the instrument in the well and contains the required conductors for electrically connecting the instrument with surface apparatus. The cable is wound on or unwound from drum 4i 14 in raising and lowering instrument 12 to traverse the well.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the subsurface instrument 12 comprises a housing 15 which encloses a neutron source 16 and a scintillation counter 17. If neutron source 16 emits gamma rays as well as neutrons, it will be desirable to enclose source 16 in a high density gamma ray absorber l8. Absorber 18 may be formed of tungsten, lead, or any other high density material. It will also be desiraie to interpose between the radiation source 16 and detector 17 a neutron absorbing shield 19 which may be a hydrogenous material such as paraffin. Scintillation counter 17 comprises a crystal 2% and a photomultiplier 21. In making a radioactivity well log with this apparatus, instrument 12 is caused to traverse the formations penetrated by the well, whereby the formations are irradiated with neutrons from source 16. Neutrons from source 16 which are captured or inelastically scattered in the formations produce gamma rays which return from the formations to crystal 20. The energies of these gamma rays are indicative of the elements in the formations from which they arise. The crystal responds to the radiation by producing photons of light which are transmitted through the crystal to photomultiplier 21. For each gamma ray detected, the number of photons produced in the crystal and transmitted to the photomultiplier is proportional to the energy of the impinging gamma ray. Photomultiplier 21 converts these photons of light into electrons which are multiplied in the electron-multiplier section of the photomultiplier to produce pulses of magnitude proportional to the number of photons of light which reach its photocathode from the crystal, and the resulting current pulses are transmitted through conductors 22 to amplifiers 23. The amplified pulses are then conducted through conductors 24 and cable 13 to the surface. Photomultiplier 21 is provided with power by a power supply 25 through conductors 26. Amplifier 23 is provided with power by a power supply 27 through conductors 28. Although illustrated as a rectangle in the drawing, photomultiplier 21 is to be understood to in clude the necessary voltage divider and electric circuits for applying the required potentials to it. Additionally, it is to be understood that the power supplies 25 and 27 may be replaced by suitable transformers and rectifiers which may be supplied with power through the cable 13 from the surface of the earth.

Through slip rings 29 and brushes 30 at the end of the drum, the conductors in the cable are electrically connected to amplifier 31 which is in turn connected to multichannel pulse selector 32. Multichannel pulse selector 32 sorts the signal pulses applied thereto into groups of pulses according to pulse energy. Each channel of pulses of a particular energy group is separately connected through one of shapers 33 to one of pulse rate conversion circuits 34. Shapers 33 shape the pulses so that each pulse has the same effect as any other upon pulse rate conversion circuits 34. Pulse rate conversion circuits 34 function in a conventional manner to produce directcurrent voltages that vary in magnitude in accordance with the rate of occurrence of pulses fed to it. These direct-current voltages are a measure of the number of pulses in each channel. The direct-current voltage of each channel is separately recorded by recorder 35. Recorder 35 is driven through a transmission 36 by measuring reel 37 over which cable 13 is drawn so that recorder 35 moves in correlation with depth as instrument 12 traverses the well.

Although in FIGURE 1, a single channel from the drum to the multichannel pulse selector is shown, it is obvious that as many channels as are necessary for a particular operation may be used. Also, although three channels are shown from the multichannel pulse selector to the recorder as many channels as are necessary may be used. It is to be understood that power for the above mentioned apparatus shown schematically is to be furnished in a conventional manner by power supplies not shown.

In order that the log made by the use of the instant invention may be indicative of the atomic composition of material around the borehole, the multichannel pulse selector 32 must be carefully adjusted in accordance with empirical determinations. Since the detector sensitivity, the gain of the amplifiers, and losses in the line cannot be determined beforehand, empirical measureemnts are necessary to determine what pulse height corresponds toa particular element in the formations. In order to identify non-capturing elements and elements which capture slow neutrons very poorly, such as carbon, oxygen, silicon, and aluminum, detector 17 is placed as close to the source 16 as is possible without undue gamma-ray background from the source in order that fast neutrons from source 16 may strike nuclei in the nearby formations and be inelastically scattered, thereby exciting the struck nuclei and thus producing, subsequently, gamma ray emission characteristic of the struck nuclei. The detector 17 must be close to the source 16 in order that the neutrons not be appreciably slowed down before they reach the formations in the vicinity of the detector. Multichannel pulse selector 32 is adjusted to sort the pulses so that the pulses introduced into each channel are indicative of a particular element that inelastically scatters fast neutrons. With close spacing, detector 17 will also detect gamma rays emitted by nuclei which have captured neutrons emitted from source 16' and slowed down. Multichannel pulse selector 32 may be adjusted to identify selectively gamma rays produced by particular elements whether as a result of capture or of inelastic scattering or with the close spacing the pulse selector may be adjusted to disregard pulses resulting from neutron capture. When it is desired to detect elements which capture slow neutrons, it is preferable to have detector 17 spaced such a distance from the source 16 that few fast neutrons penetrate to the formations in the vicinity of the detector. In such a case, the gamma-ray spectrum is not confused by gamma rays produced by inelastic scattering and, consequently, gamma rays from capture by a particular element are more easily identified. Particular capturing elements which may be identified in this manner are hydrogen, chlorine, iron, calcium, mag nesium, potassium, sulphur, and titanium. In order to interpret the logs quantitatively it is desirable to deter-- mine the neutron flux density. The fast neutron flux density near the source should remain relatively constant since the source emits a constant flux, but slow neutron fiux density depends upon the formations and, therefore, must be measured. This may be done by using a crystal detector sensitive to neutrons such as a boron-coated crystal or crystal of lithium iodide suitably activated. The pulses due to neutrons have a characteristic pulse height distribution which permits multichannel pulse selector 32 to select pulses due to neutrons for one of the channels, the output of which is to be recorded by recorder 35. Utilization of the log of slow neutron flux density permits normalization of the gamma ray logs, i.e., permits the logs to be interpreted as though neutron flux density remained constant. Alternatively, the nuetron density signal may be electrically combined with each gamma-ray signal so that normalized logs may be recorded directly. The measurement of neutron density may be made by a separate neutron-sensitive detector With separate conductors to conduct the signal to the surface and a separate channel at the surface.

In FIGURE 3 there is illustrated a form of the invention wherein two detectors are used, one near the source and one at some distance, in order to detect gamma rays of inelastic scattering and gamma rays of capture, respectively. Use of two detectors permits isolation of gamma rays of capture and gamma rays of inelastic scattering but at the same time permits both measurements to be made in a single well logging operation. In FIG- URE 3 the near detector is identified by reference char- 6, acters used in FIGURE 2 wherein only one detector was used. The distant detector 38 comprises crystal 39 and photomultiplier 40. The output of photomultiplier 40 is applied through conductors 41 to amplifier 42 where it is amplified and sent tothe surface through conductors 43. Power is supplied to photomultiplier 4% by power supply 25 through conductors 44. Power is supplied to amplifier 42 by power supply 27 through conductors 45. Each detector in FIGURE 3 operates as the detector shown in FIGURE 2, the far detector 38 being spaced far enough from source 16 that it detects almost exclusively gamma rays resulting from slow neutron capture in the formations in the vicinity of detector 38. Theclose detector 17 detects both gamma rays of inelastic scattering and gamma rays of capture but multichannel pulse selector 32 may be adjusted so that the signals from near detector 17 identify the elements which inelastically scatter neutrons. Two separate signals are sent to the surface through cable 13 and two channels are necessary on the surface; thus, there must be two amplifiers 31 and two multichannel pulse selectors 32 operating as described above.

As mentioned abo've, the precise identification of ele ments by dividing the gamma-ray spectrum to isolate peaks in the spectrum due to particular elements is not always easy or even possible because of the smearing of peaks by scattering of gamma rays before detection, because of the peaks introduced by the different reactions of gamma rays in the crystal and because of the great multiplicity of peaks. However, any division of the spectrum will provide valuable information, for one may identify formations by comparing logs of different parts of the spectrum. That is, it may be empirically deter mined that certain types of formations produce high energy gamma rays while certain other types produce low energy gamma rays. Other formations may produce gamma rays of intermediate energy. Consequently, any division of the spectrum will permit some identification of the formations, for when the gamma rays lie particularly in one part of the spectrum, certain formations are indicated. Such a division of the spectrum may be accomplished by adjusting multichannel pulse selector 18 to divide the spectrum into two or more parts. Alternatively, a plurality of detectors having different spectral sensitivity may be used to divide the spectrum. In particular, the form of the invention shown in FIGURE 3 may be used to divide the spectrum into two parts without the use of a multichannel pulse selector. The surface equipment for this form of the invention is shown in FIGURE 4. The pulses from detector 38 are amplified on the surface by amplifier 46, shaped by shaper 47, and converted to a direct-current voltage by a pulse rate conversion circuit 48 and recorded on recorder 35. Using the form of the invention described in FIGURES 3 and 4, the gamma-ray spectrum for the two detectors is different because the far detector detects only gamma rays resulting from neutron capture, whereas the near detectors additionally detects gamma rays resulting from inelastic scattering of neutrons. The gamma-ray spectrum may be broken into two parts by surounding one of two detectors of the same spectral sensitivity with a shield, such as lead, so that the spectral distribution of gamma ray reaching one of the detectors will be altered. In the case of lead, very high and very low energy gamma rays are filtered out in a greater proportion than gamma rays of intermediate energy. This form of the invention uses the surface equipment shown in FIGURE 4, and subsurface equipment as shown in FIGURE 5. Scintillation counters 17 and 38 may be spaced the same distance from the source of neutrons 16. Crystal 38 has a shield 49 of lead or some other material which will change the spectral distribution of gamma rays reaching crystal 39. An alternative to shielding one of the detectors is to make detectors of different spectral sensitivity. This may be done by placing thin coatings on identical crystals, coating one crystal with a heavy metal and the other with a light metal. Alternatively, counters may be given different spectral sensitivity by having one crystal contain heavy elements and the other crystal contain only light ele ments. Crystals containing heavy elements are: Cadmium tungstate, calcium tungstate, and thallium activated sodium iodide. Hydrocarbon crystals contain only light elements. Hydrocarbon liquids may also be used for the scintillation medium containing only light elements. All of these forms of the invention using detectors of different spectral sensitivity divide the spectrum into as many parts as there are detectors of different sensitivity. Comparison of the logs made by each detector identifies the formations surrounding a drill hole.

It is to be understood that independent signals may be transmitted to the surface on a single conductor by providing suitably isolated channels. It is to he further understood that pulse sorting may be performed in the subsurface equipment.

It is also to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the specific modifications described, but is to be limited only by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A method of radioactivity well logging that comprises the steps of traversing the formations penetrated by a well with a source of neutrons to thereby irradiate the formations with neutrons, simultaneously and by the same traversing step separately detecting at a first point spaced from said source gamma radiation resulting from neutron capture in the formations without detecting gamma radiation resulting from the inelastic scattering of neutrons in the formations by producing proportionally related electrical pulses, simultaneously and by the same traversing step separately detecting at a second point nearer said source than said first point gamma radiation including gamma radiation resulting from the inelastic scattering of neutrons in the formations by producing proportionally related electrical pulses, separately transmitting the electrical pulses to the surface of the earth, separately dividing the pulses into groups according to pulse height, separately deriving direct-current signals proportional to the rate of occurrence of pulses in each group, and separately recording the derived signals in correlation with the depth in the well at which detection occurred whereby comparisons of the records are indicative of the nature of the formations.

2. A method of radioactivity well logging that comprises the steps of traversing the formations penetrated by a well with a source of neutrons to thereby irradiate the formations with neutrons, simultaneously and by the same traversing step separately detecting at a first point spaced from said source gamma radiation resulting from neutron capture in the formations without detecting gamma radiation resulting from the inelastic scattering of neutrons in the formations by producing proportionally related electrical pulses, simultaneously and by the same traversing step separately detecting at a second point nearer said source than said first point gamma radiation including gamma radiation resulting from the inelastic scattering of neutrons in the formations by producing proportionally related electrical pulses, simultaneously and by the same traversing step detecting slow neutrons by producing electrical pulses of characteristic height, separately transmitting the electrical pulses to the surface of the earth, separately dividing the pulses into groups according to pulse height, separately deriving direct-current signals proportional to the rate of occurrence of pulses in each group, and separately recording the derived signals in correlation with the depth in the well at which detection occurred whereby comparisons of the records are indicative of the nature of the formations.

3. A method of radioactivity well logging that comprises the steps of traversing the formations penetrated by a well with a source of neutrons to thereby irradiate the formations with neutrons, simultaneously and by the same traversing step detecting gamma radiation at a point close enough to the source that fast neutrons may reach the vicinity by producing proportionally related electrical pulses, simultaneously and by the same traversing step separately detecting gamma radiation at a point so distant from the source that fast neutrons do not reach the vicinity by producing proportionally related electrical pulses, transmitting the two groups of the electrical pulses to the surface of the earth, separately deriving directcurrent signals proportional to the rate of occurrence of pulses in each group, and separately recording the derived signals in correlation with the depth in the well at which detection occurred.

4. An apparatus for making a radioactivity well log comprising an instrument housing adapted to be lowered and raised in a well, a source of neutrons within said housing, a first pulse type gamma-ray detector also within said housing so close to said source that fast neutrons may reach the vicinity, a second pulse type gamma-ray detector also within said housing so distant from said source that fast neutrons do not reach the vicinity, means for separately transmitting detection pulses from said first and second gamma-ray detectors to the surface of the earth, means at the surface of the earth for separately receiving said pulses and separately dividing said pulses into groups according to pulse height, means for separately deriving direct-current signals proportional to the rate of occurrence of pulses in each group, and means for separately recording the derived signals in correlation with the depth in the well at which detection occurred whereby comparisons of the records are indicative of the nature of the formations.

5. An apparatus for making a radioactivity well log comprising an instrument housing adapted to be lowered and raised in a Well, a source of neutrons Within said housing, a first pulse type gamma-ray detector also within said housing so close to said source that fast neutrons may reach the vicinity, a second pulse type gamma-ray detector also within said housing so distant from said source that fast neutrons do not reach the vicinity, a neutron detector near said second detector adapted to produce pulses of a characteristic height when struck by slow neutrons, means for separately transmitting detection pulses from said detectors to the surface of the earth, means at the surface of the earth for separately receiving said pulses and separately dividing said pulses into groups according to pulse height, means for separately deriving direct-current signals proportional to the rate of occurrence of pulses in each group, and means for separately recording the derived signals in correlation with the depth in the well at which detection occurred whereby comparisons of the records are indicative of the nature of the formations.

6. An apparatus for making a radioactivity well log comprising an instrument housing adapted to be lowered and raised in a well, a source of neutrons within said housing, a first pulse type gamma-ray detector also within said housing so close to said source that fast neutrons may reach the vicinity, a second pulse type gamma-ray detector also within said housing so distant from said source that fast neutrons do not reach the vicinity, means for transmitting detection pulses from said first and second gamma-ray detectors to the surface of the earth, means at the surface of the earth for receiving said pulses and deriving therefrom direct-current signals proportional to the rate of occurrence of pulses from each detector, and means for recording the derived signals in correlation with the depth in the well at which detection occurred.

7. A method of radioactivity well logging that comprises the steps of traversing the formations penetrated by a well with a source of neutrons to thereby irradiate the formations with neutrons, simultaneously and by the same traversing step electrically detecting gamma radiation at a point so close to said source that fast neutrons may reach the vicinity and said gamma radiation results from 9 both neutron capture and inelastic scattering of neutrons in the formations, simultaneously and by the same traversing step electrically detecting gamma radiation at a point so distant from said source that fast neutrons do not reach the vicinity and said gamma radiation results from neutron capture in the formations, simultaneously and by the same traversing step electrically detecting slow neutrons at said distant point, transmitting the three electrical detection signals to the surface of the earth, electrically dividing said distant gamma ray detector signal by said neutron signal thereby deriving a signal of gamma radiation produced by neutron capture which is independent of neutron flux, electrically subtracting said derived signal from said close gamma ray detector signal thereby deriving a signal of gamma radiation produced by inelastic scattering of neutrons in the formations, and recording the latter signal in correlation with the depth in the Well at which detection occurred.

8. An apparatus for making a radioactivity well log comprising an instrument housing adapted to be lowered and raised in a well, a source of fast neutrons within said housing, a first pulse type gamma-ray detector also with in said housing so close to said source that fast neutrons may reach the vicinity and gamma rays resulting from both capture and inelastic scattering of neutrons in the formations are detected, a second pulsetype gamma ray detector also within said housing so distant from said source that fast neutrons do not reach the vicinity and gamma rays resulting from neutron capture in the formations are detected, a slow neutron detector near said second gamma ray detector, means for transmitting detection pulses from said detectors to the surface of the earth, means for deriving direct-current signals proportional to the rate of occurrence of pulses from each detector, means for normalizing the direct-current signal for said second gamma ray detector'by increasing said signal in the inverse proportion to the direct-current signal for said slow neutron detector thereby deriving a direct-current signal of gamma radiation produced by neutron capture which is independent of neutron flux, means for subtracting said normalized signal from the direct-current signal for said first gamma ray detector thereby deriving a direct-current signal of gamma radiation produced by inelastic scattering of neutrons in the formations, and means for recording the latter derived signal in correlation with the depth in the well at which detection occurred.

9. A method of radioactivity well logging that comprises the steps of traversing the formations penetrated by a well with a source of neutrons thereby to irradiate the formations with neutrons, simultaneously and by the same traversing step separately detecting gamma radiation resulting from neutron capture in the formations without detecting gamma radiation resulting from the inelastic scattering of neutrons in the formations by producing a first series of related electrical pulses, simultaneously and by the same traversing step detecting both gamma radiation resulting from the inelastic scattering of the neutrons from the formations and gamma radiation resulting from neutron capture in the formations by producing a second series of related electrical pulses, separately transmitting both series of electrical pulses to the surface of the earth, separately deriving direct-current signals proportional to the rate of occurrence of pulses in each series, combining said derived signals to produce a direct-current signal proportional to the rate of occurrence of pulses resulting from the detection of gamma rays of inelastic scattering, and recording the latter signals in correlation with the depth in the well at which detection occurred.

10. A method of radioactivity well logging that comprises the steps of traversing the formations penetrated by a well with a source of neutrons to thereby irradiate the formations with neutrons, simultaneously and by the same traversing steps detecting gamma radiation at a point close enough to the source that fast neutrons may reach the vicinity by producing systematically related electrical pulses, transmitting the electrical pulses to the surface of the earth, dividing the pulses into groups according to pulse height, separately deriving direct-current signals proportional to the rate of occurrence of pulses in each group, and separately recording the derived signals in correlation with the depth in the Well at which detection occurred.

11. An apparatus for making a radioactivity well log comprising an instrument housing adapted to be lowered and raised in a well, a soruce of neutrons within said housing, a pulse type gamma-ray detector also within said housing so close to said source that fast neutrons may reach the vicinity, means for transmitting detection pulses to the surface of the earth, means at the surface of the earth for receiving said pulses and dividing said pulses into groups according to pulse height, means for deriving direct-current signals proportional to the rate of occurrence of pulses in each group, and means for recording the derived signals in correlation with the depth in the well at which detection occurred.

12. The method of determining concentrations of a selected element of the class consisting of oxygen and carbon in formations adjacent a drill hole which comprises irradiating formations along said drill hole with neutrons having energies at least equal to the characteristic nuclear energy level of said element to excite the energy level thereof by inelastic scattering, selectively detecting the component of prompt gamma radiation produced by said neutrons within a restricted energy band including said characteristic energy level, and recording said component as a function of borehole depth.

13. 'A system for determining concentrations of a selected element of the class consisting of oxygen and carbon of earth formations adjacent a borehole which comprises a source of high energy neutrons having energies at least equal to the characteristic nuclear energy level of said'element, means for traversing said borehole with said source to irradiate said formations and excite the energy level of said element by inelastic scattering, a detector supported and movable with said source for producing an output signal dependent upon the number and amplitude of prompt gamma rays impinging said detector, and differential means for recording the component of said signal dependent upon the number of said gamma rays within a restricted window which includes said characteristic energy level in the amplitude spectrum of said gamma rays.

14. The method of determining concentrations of a selected element of the class consisting of elements that inelastically scatter neutrons in formations adjacent a drill hole which comprises irradiating formations along said drill hole with neutrons having energies at least equal to the characteristic nuclear energy level of said element to excite the energy level thereof by inelastic scattering, selectively detecting the component of prompt gamma radiation produced by said neutrons within a restricted energy band including said characteristic energy level, and recording said component as a function of borehole depth.

15. A system for determining concentrations of a selected element of the class consisting of elements that inelastically scatter neutrons of earth formations adjacent a borehole which comprises a source of high energy neutrons having energies at least equal to the characteristic nuclear energy level of said element, means for traversing said borehole with said source to irradiate said formations and excite the energy level of said element by inelastic scattering, a detector supported and movable with said source for producing an output signal dependent upon the number and amplitude of prompt gamma rays impinging said detector, and differential means for recording the component of said signal dependent upon the number of said gamma rays within a restricted Window which includes said characteristic energy level in the amplitude spectrum of said gamma rays.

16. Apparatus for detecting the presence of specific atomic elements comprising a portable neutron source adapted for disposition adjacent materials to be tested for the presence of said atomic elements and emitting neutrons for bombarding the materials, an inorganic scintillation crystal disposed adjacent said neutron source in shielded relation thereto for receiving gamma rays from said bombarded material including those produced by characteristic neutron-gamma reactions and producing Output signals having amplitudes proportional to the energy of incident gamma rays, and recording means accepting signals from said scintillation crystal and having a plurality of variable energy-level channels adjustable to correspondence with the peak energy levels of gamma radiation from specific atomic particles whereby simultaneous channel actuation results from neutron gamma radiation of a predetermined atomic element for identification thereof.

17. Apparatus for identifying a substance by its property of emitting gamma radiations, comprising: a source of neutrons adapted to be relatively placed Within effective range of a substance to be identified to produce neutron capture gamma rays; and detecting means for identifying the radiation energy distribution of said gamma rays including means for storing said indications.

18. Apparatus for identifying a substance by its property of inelastically scattering neutrons, comprising: a source of neutrons adapted to be relatively placed Within effective range of a substance to be identified by its property to produce gamma rays as a result of the inelastic scattering of neutrons therein; and detecting means for identifying the radiation energy distribution of said gamma rays including means for storing such indications.

19. Apparatus for identifying a substance by its property of emitting secondary radiations, comprising: a source of primary radiations adapted to be relatively placed Within effective range of a substance to be identified to produce unstable isotopes therein; and detecting means for identifying the characteristic decay and radiation energy distribution of said isotopes including means for storing such indications.

2'9. Radioactivity Well logging apparatus for identifying a subsurface substance by its property of emitting gamma radiations, comprising:

a source of neutrons adapted to be passed through a borehole adjacent said substance to produce neutron capture gamma rays; and

detecting means for identifying the radiation energy distribution of said gamma rays including means for storing indications of said distribution.

21. Radoactivity well logging apparatus for identifying a subsurface substance by its property of emitting gamma radiations, comprising:

a source of neutrons adapted to be passed through a borehole adjacent said substance to produce gamma rays as a result of the inelastic scattering of neutrons therein; and

detecting means for identifying the radiation energy distribution of said gamma rays including means for storing indications of such distribution.

22. Radioactivity well logging apparatus for identifying a subsurface substance by its property of emitting secondary radiations, comprising:

a source of primary radiations adapted to be passed through a borehole adjacent said substance to be identified to produce unstable isotopes therein; and

detecting means for identifying the characteristic decay and radiation energy distribution of said isotopes including means for storing indications of such distribution.

23. Radioactivity Well logging apparatus for identifying a subsurface substance by its property of emitting gamma sadiations, comprising;

a source of neutrons adapted to be passed through a borehole adjacent said substance to be identified to produce gamma radiations characteristic of said substance,

a scintillation counter arranged to generate electrical pulses functionally related to the energy distribution of said characteristic gamma radiations, and

recording means arranged to store functional indications relative to the heights of said pulses.

24-. Radioactivity Well logging apparatus for identifying a subsurface substance by its property of emitting gamma radiations, comprising:

a source of neutrons adapted to be passed through a borehole adjacent said substance to be identified to produce gamma radiations characteristic of capture of neutrons in said substance,

a scintillation counter arranged to generate electrical pulses functionally related to the energy distribution of said radiations characteristic of capture of neutrons in said substance, and

recording means arranged to store functional indications of said pulses.

25. Radioactivity Well logging apparatus for identifying a subsurface substance by its property of emitting gamma radiations, comprising:

a source of neutrons adapted to be passed through a borehole adjacent said substance to be identified to produce gamma radiations characteristic of inelastic scattering of neutrons in said substance,

a scintillation counter arranged to generate electrical pulses functionally related to the energy distribution of said radiations characteristic of inelastic scattering of neutrons in said substance, and

recording means arranged to store functional indications of said pulses.

26. Radioactivity Well logging apparatus for identifying a subsurface substance by its property of emitting gamma radiations, comprising:

a source of neutrons adapted to be passed through a borehole adjacent said substance to be identified to produce unstable isotopes therein,

a scintillation counter arranged to generate electrical pulses functionally related to the energy distribution of gamma rays emitted by said unstable isotopes, and

recording means arranged to store functional indications of said pulses.

27. Radioactivity Well logging apparatus for identifying a subsurface substance by its property of emitting gamma radiations, comprising:

a source of neutrons adapted to be passed through a borehole adjacent said substance to be identified,

a scintillation counter arranged to generate electrical pulses having amplitudes functionally related to the energies of incident gamma rays emitted by said substance,

pulse height discriminating means connected to receive said pulses and having a preselected trigger level, and

recording means connected to means.

28. Radioactivity well logging apparatus for identifying a subsurface substance by its property of emitting gamma radiations, comprising:

a source of neutrons adapted to be passed through a borehole adjacent said substance to be identified,

a scintillation counter arranged to generate electrical pulses having amplitudes functionally related to the energies of incident gamma rays emitted by said substance,

pulse height analysis means connected to receive and to sort said pulses into preselected groups according to pulse amplitude, and

means for recording functional indications of said pulses in each of said preselected groups.

29. Apparatus as described in claim 28, wherein at said discriminating least one of said preselected groups includes pulses corre sponding to gamma rays arising from neutron capture by nuclei of a preselected element in said substance.

30. Apparatus as described in claim 28, wherein at least one of said preselected groups includes pulses corresponding to gamma rays arising from inelastic scattering of neutrons by nuclei of a preselected element in said substance.

31. Apparatus as described in claim 28, wherein at least one of said preselected groups includes pulses corresponding to gamma rays emitted by nuclei of a preselected unstable isotope in said substance.

32. Apparatus as described in claim 28, wherein at least one of said preselected groups includes pulses corresponding to gamma rays arising from neutron capture by hydrogen nuclei in said substance.

33. Apparatus as described in claim 28, wherein at least one of said preselected groups includes pulses corresponding to gamma rays arising from neutron capture by chlorine nuclei in said substance.

34. Apparatus as described in claim 28, wherein at least one of said preselected groups includes pulses corresponding to gamma rays emitted by oxygen nuclei in said substance.

35. Apparatus as described in claim 28, wherein at least one of said preselected groups includes pulses corresponding to gamma rays emitted by silicon nuclei in said substance.

36. Apparatus as described in claim 28, wherein at least one of said preselected groups includes pulses corresponding to gamma rays emitted by aluminum nuclei in said substance.

37. Apparatus as described in claim 28, wherein at least one of said preselected groups includes pulses corresponding to gamma rays emitted by silicon nuclei in said substance, and wherein at least one other of said preselected groups includes pulses corresponding to gamma rays emitted by aluminum nuclei in said substance.

38. Apparatus as described in claim 28, wherein at least one of said preselected groups includes pulses having amplitudes greater than one preselected amplitude but not greater than another diiferent preselected amplitude.

39. Apparatus as described in claim 28, wherein at least one of said preselected groups includes pulses corresponding to gamma rays emitted by nuclei of an element of the class consisting of oxygen and sulphur, in said substance.

40. Apparatus as described in claim 27, wherein said scintillation counter includes a phosphor and a photomultiplier tube, and wherein boron is disposed at least partially about said phosphor.

41. Apparatus as described in claim 28, wherein said scintillation counter includes a phosphor and a photomultiplier tube, and wherein boron is disposed at least partially about said phosphor.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,220,509 11/1940 Brons 25083.6 2,351,028 6/1944 Fearon 25083.6 2,469,460 5/1949 Fearon 25083.6 2,469,463 5/ 1949 Russell 25083.6 2,485,586 10/1949 Goldstein 25083.6 2,508,772 5/ 1950 Pontecorvo 25083.6 2,517,404 8/1950 Morton 25083.3 X 2,543,676 2/1951 Thayer et al. 25083.6 2,550,106 4/1951 Coltman et al. 25071.5 2,648,012 8/1953 Scherbatskoy 25071.5 2,686,266 8/1954 Pringle et al 250-71.5

OTHER REFERENCES Electronic Classifying, Cataloguing and Counting Systems, Parsons, AECD 1827, Mar. 25, 1948, pp. 1-15.

RALPH G. NILSON, Primary Examiner.

ARTHUR GAUSS, Examiner.

A. R. BORCHELT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A METHOD OF RADIOACTIVITY WELL LOGGING THAT COMPRISES THE STEPS OF TRAVERSING THE FORMATIONS PENETRATED BY A WELL WITH A SOURCE OF NEUTRONS TO THEREBY IRRADIATE THE FORMATIONS WITH NEUTRONS, SIMULTANEOUSLY AND BY THE SAME TRAVERSING STEP SEPARATELY DETECTING AT A FIRST POINT SPACED FROM SAID SOURCE GAMMA RADIATION RESULTING FROM NEUTRON CAPTURE IN THE FORMATIONS WITHOUT DETECTING GAMMA RADIATION RESULTING FROM THE INELASTIC SCATTERING OF NEUTRONS IN THE FORMATIONS BY PRODUCING PROPORTIONALLY RELATED ELECTRICAL PULSES, SIMULTANEOUSLY AND BY THE SAME TRAVERSING STEP SEPARATELY DETECTING AT A SECOND POINT NEARER SAID SOURCE THAN SAID FIRST POINT GAMMA RADIATION INCLUDING GAMMA RADIATION RESULTING FROM THE INELASTIC SCATTERING OF NEUTRONS IN THE FORMATIONS BY PRODUCING PROPORTIONALLY RELATED ELECTRICAL PULSES, SEPARATELY TRANSMITTING THE ELECTRICAL PULSES TO THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH, SEPARATELY DIVIDING THE PULSES INTO GROUPS ACCORDING TO PULSE HEIGHT, SEPARATELY DERIVING DIRECT-CURRENT SIGNALS PROPORTIONAL TO THE RATE OF OCCURRENCE OF PULSES IN EACH GROUP, AND SEPARATELY RECORDING THE DERIVED SIGNALS IN CORRELATION WITH THE DEPTH IN THE WELL AT WHICH DETECTION OCCURRED WHEREBY COMPARISONS OF THE RECORDS ARE INDICATIVE OF THE NATURE OF THE FORMATIONS. 